Power monitoring systems and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure is a system for monitoring power that has a unified polyphase distribution transformer monitoring (PDTM) device that interfaces with at least three electrical conductors electrically connected to a transformer. In addition, the PDTM device measures a current and a voltage of each of the three electrical conductors. Additionally, the system has logic that calculates values indicative of power corresponding to the transformer based upon the currents and the voltages measured and transmit data indicative of the calculated values.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for monitoring power, comprising:
 a polyphase distribution transformer monitoring (PDTM) device configured to interface with electrical conductors electrically connected to a transformer, the PDTM device further configured to measure a current and a voltage in each of the electrical conductors simultaneously, the PDTM device comprises a plurality of free-moving satellite current sensors, each current sensor undetached from the other current sensors, each satellite current sensor is separately and electrically coupled via a current cable to one of a plurality of connectors on a control box for which to deliver data indicative of current sensed by the current sensors and each current cable is paired with one of a plurality of voltage cables and each current cable and voltage cable pair is coupled to the same connector; and 
 a processor configured to calculate values indicative of power corresponding to the transformer based upon the currents and the voltages measured and transmit data indicative of the calculated values, the processor further configured to determine a time associated with each current and voltage measured. 
 
     
     
       2. The system for monitoring power of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to receive data from each of the current sensors indicative of a sensed current in each of the respective conductors. 
     
     
       3. The system for monitoring power of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to received data indicative of voltage of each of the conductors and corresponding to each of the current sensors. 
     
     
       4. The system for monitoring power of  claim 1 , wherein each connector on the cable box receives one current cable and one voltage cable. 
     
     
       5. The system for monitoring power of  claim 4 , wherein the control box comprises a current cable interface and a voltage cable interface for each connector. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to associate usage data from each of the pairs in memory over time and use the usage data collected over time to calculate power usage for a conductor cable, bus bar, or particular node. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , is shaped as a circle that comprises two separable arches including arch section one and arch section two. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein arch section one is hingedly coupled to arch section two with a hinge. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein when installed and in a closed position, arch section one and arch section two coupled together via a latch and forming a single circle through which a conductor may traverse. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein a coreless current sensor is housed within arch section one and arch section two. 
     
     
       11. A method for monitoring power, comprising:
 interfacing a polyphase distribution transformer monitoring (PDTM) device with at least one electrical conductor electrically connected to a transformer, the PDTM device comprising a plurality of free-moving satellite current sensors undetached from the other current sensors; 
 electrically coupling each separate current sensor via a current cable to one of a plurality of connectors on a control box; 
 pairing each current cable with one of a plurality of voltage cables; 
 coupling each current cable and voltage cable pair to the same connector; 
 measuring a current and a voltage of the electrical conductor via the current sensor and the voltage lead; 
 calculating values indicative of power corresponding to the transformer based upon the current and the voltage measured; 
 associating a time stamped with each current and voltage measured; and 
 transmitting data indicative of the calculated values. 
 
     
     
       12. The method for monitoring power of  claim 11 , further comprising electrically coupling at least three current sensors to the control box. 
     
     
       13. The method for monitoring power of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving data from each of the three current sensors indicative of a sensed current in each of the respective conductors. 
     
     
       14. The method for monitoring power of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving data indicative of voltage of each of the conductors and corresponding to each of the current sensors.